Belarus has freed 123 prisoners, including prominent opposition activist Maria Kolesnikova and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski, after the US agreed to lift sanctions on the country. Also on the programme, Cambodia has shut its border crossings with Thailand, as fighting continues despite US President Donald Trump earlier saying they had agreed to a ceasefire; and, how the British novelist Charles Dickens is being celebrated this Christmas in a small Dutch town.
(Belarus released over 100 political prisoners form prison, Vilnius, Lithuania - 13 Dec 2025. VALDA KALNINA/EPA/Shutterstock)
These days, we're hearing a lot about the many benefits of Roth accounts. However, they’re not the best choice for every investor. Host Robert Brokamp speaks with Megan Brinsfield, CFP, CPA, president of Motley Fool Wealth Management (a sister company of The Motley Fool), about when the advice to Roth goes wrong.
Also in this episode: -The Fed lowers interest rates, sending value and small-cap stocks soaring -Request your required minimum distributions at least a few days before Dec. 31, including if you inherited a retirement account -Every year the Nasdaq 100 drops, it drops big -Starting next year, catch-up 401(k) contributions from higher-earning workers age 50 or older must go into a Roth account – who’s affected and how to prevent suboptimal consequences
Host: Robert Brokamp Guest: Megan Brinsfield Engineer: Bart Shannon
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In this special Saturday edition, Mike sits down with Daniel Oppenheimer of Eminent Americans to tackle a high-stakes question: Who is worthy of the Fresh Air throne? They dissect the craft of interviewing, critique the "unprepared celebrity" podcast trend, and evaluate potential successors ranging from Colin McEnroe to Jon Ronson.
After more clashes on the Thai-Cambodian border, we ask a Cambodian official whether the dispute will escalate.
Also in the programme: four months ahead of the elections in Hungary, why has child protection become such a key issue? And as Israel plans to build a new road and barrier in the occupied West Bank, we hear from the head of the UN’s Human Rights Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
(IMAGE: A handout photo made available by Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP) shows a bridge destroyed by Thai F-16 fighter jets in Pursat Province, Cambodia, 13 December 2025 / CREDIT: Handout /EPA/Shutterstock)
Health care subsidies are set to expire at the end of this year. Millions of Americans face price hikes but can Congress reach a deal to alleviate the pain? Historic flooding hits part of the Pacific Northwest, we’ll have the latest from Washington. Plus, a look at the U.S. Justice Department under President Trump.
A pop-up cafe in Tokyo is giving people with dementia a place to volunteer as well as a sense of community. Its owner Toshio Morita has become something of a local celebrity. At Orange Day Café, muddled orders, long pauses and gentle confusion aren’t mistakes — they’re the point.
Also:
A Northern Irish man who suffered a cardiac arrest had his life saved after his golden retriever, named Polly, alerted his wife after he stopped breathing. Polly the dog has been hailed a hero by the charity, the British Heart Foundation.
A revolutionary gene therapy has successfully treated patients with aggressive and previously incurable blood cancers.
In Kenya, the Rare Gem Talent School has been set up specifically to teach dyslexic children. A condition that is believed to impact around 10% of people globally.
A woman in Kerala, India, has started a camp to help women who are going through a divorce.
And a French man in London has become the face of a homelessness charity after his virtuoso piano playing at a train station went viral.
Our weekly collection of inspiring, uplifting and happy news from around the world.
News Items: Young Cancer, Adapting to Modern Life, Safety of mRNA Vaccines, Cosmic Rays Ground Aircraft, Reverse Aging Claim; Who's That Noisy; Your Questions and E-mails: EU Gene Editing; Who Said That; Science or Fiction
What’s ailing Campbell’s soup? And why are investors jumpy again about AI? Plus, is Lululemon on the verge of making a comeback? Host Francesca Fontana discusses the biggest stock moves of the week and the news that drove them.
What’s ailing Campbell’s soup? And why are investors jumpy again about AI? Plus, is Lululemon on the verge of making a comeback? Host Francesca Fontana discusses the biggest stock moves of the week and the news that drove them. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.
